Fountain brush



. All-14, V1945- f o. J. HERB 2,382,314

, FoUNTAINBRUsH Filed Feb. ll, 1943 FIGS.

Patented Aug. 14, 1945 FOUNTAIN BRUSH Otto `J. Herb, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to Diagraph-Bradiey Stencil Machine Corporation, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application February 11, 1943, Serial No. 475,507

(Cl. --138) i 1 Claim.

. This invention relates to fountain brushes, and

with regard to certain more specic features, to

so-called fountain or reservoir brushes used for ink stenciling and similar operations.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of a fountain brush having an improved form of valve and valvecontrol, wherein the control button is in a much handier location and in which the control valve and its outlet have a better arrangement with respect to the bristle elements of the brush; the provision of a brush of ,this class wherein the fluid feed is metered as required, but which is definitely cut off `withoutleakagewhen not required; and the provisionof .a brush of this class which is economical and easy to manufacture and assemble, and which is trouble proof in use. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplied in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claim.

In the accompanying drawing, in which are illustrated two of various possible embodiments of the invention,

' Fig. 1 is a top plan view of one form of my new brush;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on line 2.-`2 of Fig. l, showing the valve closed;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section of the valve forced open;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing the brush lying on its side and,

Fig. 5 is anlenlarged vertical section showing an alternative construction.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Referring now more'particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown at numeral I a body portion of my brush threaded to receive a ferrule 3 of a bristle brush assembly 5. Part of the brush assembly constitutes an inner bushing 1, which provides a space 9 in which the ink for the brush is received. The assembly of ferrule 3, bristles 5 and bushing 1 constitutes an integral brush unit which may be applied to 'and removed from the body l.

At the lower end of the body I is a flange,

which serves to locatelthe brush on an angle when A laid down, as indicated in Fig. 4, whereby, to prevent smudging and the like, the bristles 5 are held clear of the supporting surface.

The body I is provided with a wall II between which and the brush assembly is located a gasket I3. This wall II constitutes a bottom forming part of the liquid reservoir of the brush. Threaded to the upper end of the body I is a cylindric well I5 sealed by a gasket I1. The spreads are shown at I9. Fastened to and en- ,closing the upper end of the reservoir I5 is an enclosing cup-shaped head 2l, permanently attached.

Threaded centrally into the bottom II is a cylinder 23 of a metering piston valve. This cylinder 23 is locked in position by a lock nut 25. Above `the lock nut are inlet ports .21 which are travpiston 29, which slides ersed by the lower end of a in the cylinder 23.

Threaded into the end of the piston 29 is a valve stem 3l which carries a tapered valve head 33. This head has a screw-driver slot 94 for assembly purposes. This stem 3| reaches through an opening 35 spaced therefrom for permitting ,exit of ink from the cylinder 23. A spring 35 reacting from the lower end of the cylinder 23 and against the end of the piston 29 biases the latter up from the position shown in Fig. 3 toward the position shown in Fig. 2. That is, it biases the lower end of the piston 29 to cross the ports 21. At the same time it biases the valve head 93 toward closing the opening 35. A sealing gasket 31 seals off the opening 35 at` the time that the piston 29 is up (ports 21 open).

The upper end of the piston 29 is formed as an enlarged cup 39, having a relatively large recess 4I for loosely and easily receiving the lower end of a plunger 43. This plunger 43 near its upper end has a shoulder 45, beyond which is a continuous stem 41. This stem 41 passes through a packing gland 49. the latter forming an extension from the enclosing cup 2|. Between the shoulder 45 and the gland 49 is located a washer 5| which seals the lower end of the gland when the head 45 is biased toward it.

Within the gland 45 is packing material 53 which is axially compressed by means of a metal washer'V 55. The washer is biased against the packing by a conical spring 51. The upper end of the spring reacts against a control button 59 threaded to the end of the stem 41. Recesses 5I are for a Spanner wrench, whereby the button 59 may be applied to or removed from the stem 41.

As indicated in Fig.l2`,4 the lower end 63 of-the" lows:

In the position shownin Fig. 2, the spring 35 has biased the piston 29 upward so that the ports 21 are open; at the same time the valve head 33 has pushed up the gasket 31 to close the outlet 35. Ink from the reservoirflows through the openings'21 and into the cylinder 23, from which it cannot at this time escape. Any air theretofore entrained in the cylinder escapes from the openings 21 to provide atmospheric pressure above the ink upon the next release or at least to prevent a vacuum from forming in the reservoir. This part of the structure constitutes a vacuum breaker. It will be noted in this connection that the brush is not connected otherwise to the atmosphere, but nevertheless interior pressure is maintained at or near that of the atmosphere. i

To charge the bristles with ink, the operator presses a finger down axially upon the button 59 against the action of spring 51. vThis first drives down the stem 43 to take up the lost motion at 55, and then depresses the piston 29, as indicated in Fig. 3. The charge of ink in the cylinder 23 is then positively forced out of the then open port 35, since the head 33 is now down. The ink runs over the washer 31 and from the end of the inverted conical head 33.. This particular form and position of valve and head is advantageous, since it favors the formation of droplets which easily release themselves to proceed axially to the bristles 5. One pressure operation results in delivering to the brush a metered charge of ink, regardless of the time normally involved in the operation. When more ink is desired, the button 59 is released and again pressed. It will be seen that the release action effects indrawing of air behind the released drops, this air being trapped upon closure of the openings 35. It is this air which proceeds upward through the ports 21 when these are open. At this time, ink is ad mitted for the next metering stroke.

While the packing 53 can be depended upon to give a normally good seal, the gasket5| makes an additional seal whenever the button 59 is released.

One advantage of the invention is the positively metered charging of the ink into the brush by the piston 29. Another is the disassembly allowed between I and I5 for refilling. The loose lit and lost motion at 65 allow of transmitting motion from the button 59 to the piston 29 without requiring too high a degree of accuracy in the longitudinal and centric dimensions of the container I5 asrel'ated to the body I. There is Anotheradvantage of the invention is the axialA disposition of parts constituting the valve mechanism, and the position of the operating parts at the upper end of the brush, taken as a whole. This allows of a much better grip of the brush than heretofore while daubing it, and simultaneous operation of the valve.

In Fig. 5 is showna pneumatic form of the invention, in which is avoided the necessity for the stem 43 and the lost motion connection. In this case, like numerals indicate like brush assembly parts. In this case the body |0| carries a bottom |03 to which is fastened a container |95, all forming a reservoir. Threaded into the bottom |03 is an outletplug- |01 to which is threaded a nozzle |09 having a tapered nozzle drip end Formed around the lower end of the outlet ||3 is a seat I I5 upon which seats a gasket ||1 carried in the pocket of 'a' valve cap ||9, the latter being biased by means of a spring |2| toward the seat ||5. Crenelations |23 inthe edge of the cap ||9 allow ow around the cap when the outlet I |3 is open. Flow then proceeds through the drip outlet III.

At the upper end of the container |05 is a Dermanently enclosing head which at its bottom has an outlet |21, located in a threaded tip |29. Threaded onto the tip |29 is a check'valve holder I3| having an outlet |33 and containing a spring |35 pressing against a valve cup I 31, also crenelated at |39 for permitting flow when open. The cup |31 contains a packing gasket |4|, which when the cup |31 is biased up by spring |35 closes oft ports |21 by seating on lip |43.

The upper end of the inlet |21 communicates with an air cylinder |45, in which is a. piston |41 carrying at its end a packing |49. Assembly and guiding of the piston is accomplished by means of abushing 5|. Through the piston |41 is formed an opening |53 leading to atmosphere through a control button extension |48. The assembly of piston |41 and packing |49 is normally biased upward by means, of a compression spring |55.

The assembly of -lower parts |09, |2I, ||9 and ||1 below the outlet ||3 forms a check valve allowing outward ink flow but checking inward flow. I'he assembly of separate upper parts |3I, |35, |31 and |4| below the inlet |21 forms a check valve opening for now of air into the reservoir and closing against outward flow.

Operation of the embodiment of Fig. 5 is as follows:

The respective check valves below inlet |21 and outlet ||3 are normally biased shut. Normally the extension |40 is up. 'I'he operator then simply presses' down the extension |48. 'I'he finger F automatically closes the opening |53. Therefore, a charge of air is trapped beneath the descending piston and forced through the inlet |21 to open the valve |31, |4|. Air under pressure flows around the crenelations |39 and into the reservoir through the port |33. 'I'his places pressure upon the ink in the reservoir.

The ink under pressure biases open the valve ||9, I1. The resulting discharge supplies a drop or so of ink from nozzle I which drips into the brush 5, and at the same time the pressure inside the reservoir is relieved, whereupon the valve I I1, ||9 closes. The operator releasesA the extension |43 whereupon the spring |55 biases it upward anda fresh charge o1'- air isldrawn into the cylinder |45 which, upon the next operati-on as above described, is injected into the reservoirf to vforce out another drop or so of ink. Thus upon each pressure stroke, air is supplied to the reservoir and a substantially metered charge of ink is supplied to the brush.

'When the finger is drawn back after a stroke, the delayed action of the piston |49, due to incipient vacuum therebeneath, tends to separate the extension |48 from the linger F, thereby automatically effecting opening of the inlet port Ill. Thus a minimum oi instruction is required for the operator.

The invention shown in Fig. 5 provides the same advantages in regard to independence of ne tolerances required for assembly. T'hat is, the entire separation of the` operating elements at the upper end connected with the member 25 allows o! latitude in positioning of these with respect t the operated elements on the Vdiaphragm |03. 'I'his is an equivalent of the lost-motion connection i shown in Fig. 2.

By thus mounting the operating portions of the valve in the removable tube II or Ill and the operated portions in the body I or IM, as the case may be, provision is made for easily separating these upon separating the tube Il or Ill for refilling with ink.

In view of the above, it willbe seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and s other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown yin the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

A fountain brush comprising a body portion y 3 forming an enclosing bottom, a brushassembly removably threaded to said body portion outside of said bottom, said bottom having a passage forming a cylindric outlet, a. lateral connection to said passage within the bottom. a valve piston in said cylindric passage and traversing saidconnection, means biasingthe piston to uncover the inlet connectiornan auxiliary valve extending from said piston through said outlet adapted to cooperate with the end of the outlet to close it when thepiston is biased to uncover said lateral connection and to open the outlet when the piston is biased to close said connection for ejection of fluid, a cylinder removably attached to said body portion to complete the reservoir, a reciprocating operating button pocketed at the end of the cylinder which is oppositely located with respect to the body portion. a stem extending from said button to said piston, said piston being formed to provide a lost-motion engagement between it and said extension. whereby said extension and piston may automatically be separated upon removing the cylindric portion of the reser-` voir from'\the body portion thereof, radial packing means in a gland between said extension and the enclosing end of the cylindric portion, a co1- lar on said extension within the reservoir, and packing means between the collar\and said packing gland operable to form an endwise seal with said gland when the button is released.

O'I'IO J. HERB. 

